Augustinians examine the immigrant experience

Augustinian regional leaders gathered in Dublin last week

Last week some 25 Augustinian regional leaders from all over Europe gathered in the Emmaus Retreat Centre in Dublin to explore the topic, ëImmigration and Migration. The European Experienceí. With the help and presence of experts, the immigrant voice itself, and the Irish Immigrantsí Council, they shared their own experiences and examined how Augustinians throughout Europe can better understand and respond to this issue in their own location.

The Irish Augustinian community hosted the event, welcoming their brothers from a range of countries such as Malta, Italy, Spain, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, Belgium, Holland, England and Scotland, while also sharing the experiences of colleagues working on overseas missions in countries like Nigeria, the Congo, Kenya, Papua New Guinea.

The leaders were welcomed by Fr John Hennebry, Provincial of the Irish Province and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin celebrated Mass.

The guest speakers during the two-day conference included Fr Jurgen Hess from Germany, Ms Katie Mannion of the Immigrant Council of Ireland, Fr Kieran OíMahony from Ireland, Fr Stanislav SVD, Polish Chaplaincy of Dublin and Fr Wieslaw Dawidowski, Provincial of Poland, Fr Lazarus Barkindo and Fr Raymond Tumba, Nigerian province.